The History of No. 2 Forward Observation Unit, Royal Artillery (Airborne)

Part 1 By Lt.-Col. H.J.B. (Harry) Rice, RA (Retired)

I had the privilege and good fortune, as a young Battery Commander of 24 in a Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, to be appointed in July 1944 to command a totally new unit called 2nd Forward Observer Unit, R.A. (Airborne) which, as I soon discovered, was to be part of the British 6th Airborne Division, then fighting in Normandy. Few soldiers are fortunate enough to be involved in the formation of a totally new unit, fewer still in a unit whose make-up was unique in that it was to be one-third British, Royal Artillery and two-thirds Canadian, Royal Canadian Artillery, so I was particularly lucky in that appointment.

2 FOU, (soon to be known in the Division as either “the FOO” or “two FOO”) had a comparatively short life as Army units go, but it quickly made its mark and those who were in it can take pride in its achievements.

(L-R): Capt. S.A. Mooney M.C., G.R. Bartlett, H.V. Mellenger and W.A. Mackenzie, Training in Wismar, Germany 20 May 1945. The first question that we all asked on joining was “What is a FOU?”. No one in the Divisional Rear Party in Bulford seemed to know and it took a trip to Normandy, where the Division was busy pushing the Germans back to the River Seine, to find out. The Commander Royal Artillery, Brigadier “Chubby” Faithful gave me his orders and priorities: we were to direct the fire of any ground force artillery in range of the Division and to take a leading role in countering the fire of the German mortars which had been so deadly in Normandy. He required from us long range wireless communications, perfect radio procedures, good artillery fire control by the forward observation parties and everyone to be highly proficient in counter-mortar duties.

The motto of 6th Airborne Division was “Go To It” and 2 FOU did just that.

Gunner J.R. Purser 2 FOU. The parachute cord strands hanging from his Denison smock zipper represent every jump he made up until 4 October 1944. John recorded in a letter dated 28 September 1994 that although many members of 2 FOU were qualified to wear the Glider Trained Infantry Badge, he could not recall anyone going out of their way to actually wear it. The man at right is also a British member of 2 FOU.

What does one remember of those far off days?

- the 3 months of intensive training in the autumn of 1944 on Salisbury Plain, with parachute training for those who had not already got their parachute wings, the arrival of the forward observation parties from Normandy (only five parties remaining of the twelve who had left England on D Day), learning lessons from them and from 1 FOU who had been in the Battle of Arnhem, interminable radio exercises, counter-mortar exercises parachuting and gliding with the infantry battalions of the Division and working with our new liaison sections who arrived from the Canadian Army in November;

- our Christmas leave in December 1944 that wasn’t. With less than 24 hours’ notice and on the very day that we were meant to go on leave the whole of the Division was heading eastwards to Tilbury for embarkation for France. We landed at Ostend on Christmas Day and set off as fast as we could for Dinant on the River Meuse and the Battle of the Bulge;

- the bitter cold and snow of the Ardennes in December and January and, in particular, the vicious little Battle for Bure, where 13th Parachute Battalion had heavy casualties and 2 FOU’s counter-mortar organization succeeded, in its first engagement, in successfully directing the fire of our own artillery and silenced the heavy German mortar fire which was being aimed at the Battalion in the village,

- the strange interlude for most of February 1945, when the Division held the line of the River Maas in Holland between Roermond and Venlo while the great battles raged in the Reichswald not very far away. 2 FOU had observation posts established in the villages along the river. It was during this period that a deep penetration patrol was sent across the flooded river under the command of Captain Ken Boss, during which it had to fight its way out of a tricky situation, an action for which Captain Boss was awarded the Military Cross;

- the return to Winterbourne Gunner at the end of February 1945 leaving part of the Unit behind in Holland, 7 days leave and then a hectic 3 weeks in March during which the Unit checked its equipment, took part in several exercises, received and despatched to Holland in 48 hours two sound ranging sections, left for the marshalling camps and airfields in East Anglia and duly played it part in the airborne assault across the River Rhine on 24 March;

- the battle itself, and the quiet satisfaction in knowing that 2 FOU had carried out in every respect all that it had been required to do. The weeks and months of training had paid off;

- the advance across Germany, with plenty of fighting and 2 FOU observation parties being very active in shooting our own artillery and in counter-mortar work. A particularly unpleasant battle took place in mid-April when 6th Air Landing Brigade forced a crossing of the River Weser against determined opposition. Captain Sid Mooney was awarded the Military Cross for the part his observation party played in this operation;

- the preparation for an airborne assault across the River Elbe, which never took place; and the final dash from the Elbe to the Baltic with the Division under orders to reach Wismar before the Russians got there, thereby preventing them from getting into Denmark;

Capt. I.C. Stewart (left) and Capt. Sid Mooney MC (right) at Greven Germany 5 April 1945. Note that they wear enemy tan & water pattern reversible to white winter camouflage parkas. LAC, CHR 49494

- who can forget the almost farcical situation of the airborne soldiers roaring up one side of the road intent on reaching Wismar and the German Army hurrying down the other side of the same road, intent on getting away from the Russians, with both Armies in far too much of a hurry to waste time shooting at each other; and the final irony of all when we drove through one small town whose square was packed with German soldiers and transport, they lined the streets and cheered us on; in their eyes we had saved them from certain retribution.

(L-R): L/Bdr. Harry Venne, Capt. Sid Lloyd, Gnr. Ted Clay and Gnr. Chuck Bradley, Wismar, Germany May 1945.

- meeting, and halting, the Russians at Wismar, the surrender of the German Forces to Field Marshall Montgomery on 5 May, and V E Day on 8 May; and the curiously flat, rather aimless feeling when it was all over and we had nothing else to do.

- the return to Winterbourne Gunner in mid-May, leave, the departure in June of all RCA personnel en route to Canada (the liaison sections had left for Canada in late April), the arrival of reinforcements from 1st Airborne Division and the re-forming of the Unit. Six weeks later, in mid July, 2 FOU was on the move again for the war in the Far East, to India and fresh operations in Singapore and Indonesia, and to Palestine. But that, as they say, is another story.

Wismar 20 May 1945, Unknown L/Bdr., Capt. Alan Finlayson, Bdr. Bob Mullin, L/Bdr. Granger Martin on radio.

Part 2 By Capt. R.C. (Bob) Hamilton, Commander, No. 5 Section

By June 1944, airborne divisions needed the support of a great deal of artillery as they became involved in major operations. Then experience taught that a well-organized unit of forward observers with top observer, gunnery and wireless communications skills was needed to help ensure the success of an airborne operation. In this setting, a fine example of British-Canadian co-operation took place when No. 2 Forward Observation Unit, Royal Artillery (Airborne) was formed on August 7, 1944. This Unit was to work with the brigades and their battalions in the 6th British Airborne Division. There was a British H.Q., two Canadian sections and one British section.

Our unit had a working WE [War Establishment] of 101, half British and half Canadian. Experience from earlier operations proved that immediate replacement of Forward Observer parties and much better co-operation was needed. For example, in Normandy, some FOOs [Forward Observation Officers] never arrived and usually it took a long time to get replacements.

The soldiers for No. 2 FOURA (Airborne) came mainly from Canadian and British regiments. Many had taken parachute training as I had – not knowing where we would end up but anything to get the War over. On “D” Day, June 6, 1944, my 23rd Field Regiment, R.C.A., S.P. [Self- Propelled] in the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, was still training but ready to move into Normandy. I was A-Troop Commander. Four days later, the 31st Battery Office runner brought me a note...”Hamilton, come and get your gear. You are leaving the Regiment”. After waiting in Depot, we were rushed to the Salisbury area where we formed the Unit and continued parachute and artillery training. Our main responsibility was to support 6 Division’s brigades and battalions by Forward Observation for assigned artillery regiments – British, American and Canadian. For communication, we depended completely on wireless sets – even at long distances.

At the beginning, each section had an establishment of six officers and 18 technical assistants, signallers, drivers, etc. The section H.Q. worked with the Brigade’s Brigadier and there was a Forward Observer party with each battalion. In reserve, was a second-in-command party and a Forward Observer party in case a party was wiped out or didn't arrive.

To co-ordinate the Unit across the Division, the Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. H.J.B. Rice, R.A., was at Divisional Headquarters [Rice was a Captain throughout the war; he retired a Lt.- Col. in 1963]. Intensive training in all aspects of an anticipated airborne operation took place. In action, the Forward Observer Officer and his party would be in wireless communication with an assigned artillery regiment and send fire-orders to them. These could be British, American, or Canadian.

Gradually, the Unit’s responsibilities increased to include sound ranging and radar, with a resultant increase in the war establishment to 158. Also, liaison parties trained with the Unit so they thoroughly understood its mode of operation. For an airborne operation, a liaison party would be with the artillery supporting a brigade and in direct wireless communication with the No. 2 FOU Section.

Gunners D.E. Jilks and Bruce E.D. Kerr with captured German flag, Greven, Germany, 5 April 1945. Kerr was killed the next day and is buried at Holten Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands. LAC CHR 49495

Most of the Unit’s involvement was ground role in nature. When the Battle of the Bulge (attempted German break-through) took place in Belgium, No. 6 British Airborne Division was rushed to Belgium on December 24, 1944. There wasn’t an airborne operation at that moment but we had to be ready to undertake forward observation for assigned artillery and related duties in the Ardennes. This turned out to be a real battle, challenge, and experience but successful – and the Germans were not able to break through. There were casualties, with some not able to return to the Unit later.

After about two months, we returned to England to continue intensive training for Operation “Varsity” (and other possible operations). Also, a good mental outlook to accept such challenges was most important.

Before March 24, 5 Canadian Liaison parties, with officers (1 Major and 4 Captains) and signallers trained with us for many weeks. In this way they were much better informed as to how we operated so that they would be able to interpret the fire orders, etc., when they went with the assigned artillery regiments (British, American or Canadian) and their commanders.

The Nazi leaders didn’t give up easily; so the Air Forces and Artillery Regiments on the west side of the Rhine, bombed and shelled the Germans east of where the Rhine turn south in Germany. Commandos and Infantry crossed during the darkness March 23-24, 1945 to form shallow bridge heads. Other ground forces crossed before dawn. Bridges were built. There was very heavy fighting and very heavy artillery fire.

At 9:50 a.m., March 24, 1945, in broad daylight, allied aircraft from England and based in Europe, started dropping paratroopers from the 6th British Airborne Division and 17th US Airborne Division followed by gliders taking in Airlanding Brigade personnel plus some Division equipment. Despite casualties, particularly gliders which were sitting ducks, it was the largest and most successful airborne operation ever and helped shorten the War considerably. It was shocking that this had to be done to rid Germany and the World of Mad Dog Hitler and the Nazis.

Most No. 2 FOURA (Airborne) paratroopers had a kit bag with a wireless set or other equipment strapped to one leg. While airborne, the kit bag could be lowered to the full extent of 20 feet of rope. Paratroopers often had to land in the midst of enemy fire and then proceed to their rendezvous. Many FOU parties went in by gliders which were often sitting targets.

Like Gunner Purser, Pte. J.D. Auld kept a souvenir of his qualifying parachute jump. The shoulder title and CANADA were not J.D.'s and just added for the photo.

Those reaching the rendezvous established wireless communications within each brigade and with the liaison party, as well as on-the-spot contact with the brigadier or lieutenant-colonel of the combat troops. Field, medium and long-range artillery regiments called upon for fire at very long ranges, were given their fire orders by No. 2 FOU officers not far from the targets. The safety of allied troops had to be watched.

Commando and other assault troops had crossed the Rhine through the night, followed by other ground forces before dawn. Advance elements of these forces reached the nearest airborne units (three miles east of the Rhine) within a few hours and the farthest airborne units (seven miles east of the Rhine) within two days. There had been very heavy fighting and many casualties. However, the element of surprise and confusion to the enemy had paid off. The skilled work of the No. 2 Forward Observer Unit personnel made a major contribution to the success of the operation and in bringing the War closer to an end.

Lieut. P. Hobbs and L/Bdr. Granger Martin with captured P08 Luger pistols, Germany, May 1945. Sgt. Jim Webster (6 Section) was with Capt. Charlie Gagnon, R.C.A., a former Canadian Champion Weightlifter, at the front of the glider. Before exiting, Charlie was shot dead by the Germans. On March 25, when 1CPB (3 Brigade) was heavily attacked, Capt. Ken Boss, R.A., M.C., called for fire. To improve his view of the target, he stood on top of his slit trench. According to 1CPB, his fire spared them from a dangerous counter-attack. Ken was seriously wounded and died later. Boss received the M.C. Capt. Don McMillan, R.C.A., immediately replaced Boss as FOO with 1CPB.

Others killed in action were: Britisher C.R. (Jock) Jarvis, March 24, 1945 Canadian B.M. Robinson, March 26, 1945 Canadian Douglas Kerr, April 6, 1945 Britisher L/Bdr. Sunter, April 1945 Many others were wounded.

On April 6, 1945, while attached to the Oxs and Bucks, 6th Airlanding Brigade, Captain Sid. A. Mooney, R.C.A. was awarded the M.C. for his part in the assault crossing of the Wesel River, north of Minden. Doug Kerr was in this action too.

Most of our involvement was ground role in nature in the battles. The 6th Airborne Division led the 2nd British Army most of the way across Germany. A couple of days after the Rhine, I was with Brigadier Poett who was leading 5 Brigade and the Division. The soldier beside me was killed by an enemy rifle bullet. The Nazi-led forces and Hitler Youth were very tough, resulting in many battles along the way. Germans who didn’t follow orders were shot by the Nazis.\

(L-R): Gnr. Frank Babineau, Gnr. Zeke Miller, Gnr. Chuck Bradley, Wismar, Germany, May 1945.

We met the Russian at Wismar on the Baltic Sea before VE Day, May 8. The last day in battle, we had Piper Cub two-seater planes with American pilots attached to us. We went so quickly that we couldn’t use them for Air O.P. work. The next morning at Wismar, the pilots asked us if we would like to go up for a flight and five of us joined them. We were given a marvellous view of the area. Then they took us over the Russian occupied area where we saw mainly horse-drawn equipment. Despite very clear markings on the Piper Cubs, in short order, we were fired at by the Russians.

Gnr. Wally McKenzie shaking hands with the Soviets 4 May 1945 in the area of Wismar.

It had been agreed between the Russians and other Allies that a barrier would be erected dividing the Wismar area – the Russians were to stay to the east of the barrier and the Americans, British and Canadians to the west. We weren’t permitted to cross the barrier by the Russians. The Russians flooded over to our side. Our C.R.A. [Commander Royal Artillery] Brig. Faithful thought that it would be relaxing to go sailing. He found a sailboat and went out onto the Baltic Sea. The Russians felt that he got too close to the Russian occupied area and sent a boat out after him. He was taken back to the Russian area headquarters and interviewed. It was 5 hours before he was released. There were other cases like this.

(L-R): L/Bdr. Ken Embury, Bdr. Bob Mullin, Gnr. Chuck Bradley, L/Bdr. Harry Venne, Wismar, Germany, May 1945.

After VE Day, the Canadian personnel were called back to the Canadian Army, despite some talk that we might be going to Norway – it didn’t happen, as the Germans gave in. Later, 6th Airborne Division was given the task to drop on Singapore and then on Japan. The Unit H.Q. and 5 Section flew with 5 Parachute Brigade arriving at Kalyon near Bombay at the end of July. After the 2 BOMBS were dropped on Japan, VJ Day was declared in August – saving further enormous potential casualties on our side – and theirs. 5 Parachute Brigade Group, including our 5 Section worked on its own, moved to Singapore and later to Semarang, Java, encountering very heavy fighting and internal security problems.

Unidentified signalman of 2 FOU on his return to Canada in 1945. Note that under the finger of the man on the right he still wears the AIRBORNE designation strip.

In June 1946, 5 Para Brigade returned to Palestine where 5 Section rejoined No. 2 FOURA (Airborne). The challenges in WW II and the Far and Middle East left the Forward Observer Units the best of all in efficient signalling. Without excellent communications, they were powerless to carry out their challenging artillery responsibilities which, in the end analysis, were very well carried out.

Most Officers, N.C.O.s and Gunners were trained signallers. This was a must, despite potential casualties, to get the fire orders through to assigned Regiments of Artillery.

British and Canadian Members of 2 Foura, Wismar, Germany, May 1945

British and Canadian Officers, Wismar, Germany, May 1945

Front Row: Peter Jones, Alan Goldney, K.I. Morrell, Harry Rice, L. Desloges, Badger Harrington M.C., Sid Mooney M.C. 2nd Row: Bob Hamilton, Alan Finlayson, Don McMillan, P. Hobbs, Ollie Raz, Tommy Giles 3rd Row: Sid Lloyd, Tony Yapp, Curt Nicholson

The Canadians – All Ranks, Wismar, Germany, May 1945

Front Row: Ted Duffy, St. Pierre, John Rockwell, Wally McKenzie, Gord Auld, Zeke Miller, Frank Babineau, Leo Anderson, Jack Pinch, Harry Caldwell. 2nd Row: V. Mellinger, Ted Clay 3rd Row: Dennis Larkin, Jerry Bartlett, Don Kent, George Shakeshaft, Tiger O’Connel, Harry Venne, Jim Webster, Alex Dutchak, Fred Linklater 4th Row: Bob Mullin, Jack Davis, Ken Embury, Granger Martin, Chuck Bradley 5th Row: Sid Lloyd, Bob Hamilton, Alan Finlayson, Don McMillan, Ollie Raz, ?, ?